Residents protest before meeting about the Charterhouse Fields being given to Blue Coat School

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A public inquiry will consider whether city centre fields should have “village green” status to ensure public access – and is expected to cost taxpayers a six-figure sum.

It is believed Coventry City Council’s bill for hiring barristers in a dispute over part of Charterhouse Fields, now leased to Blue Coat School, could be at least £100,000.

A bid for village green status was submitted to the council two years ago by then Socialist councillor Dave Nellist.

Local families including 1,000 petitioners – who have for decades used the fields for recreation – protested when new government laws meant the land would have to be transferred from public ownership to the school on a 125-year lease, as part of the school’s conversion to academy status.

The village green application concerns part of the land used as playing fields by Blue Coat School and part of the council’s land adjoining the medieval Charterhouse building.

Labour councillor Jim O’Boyle, whose St Michael’s ward includes the fields, claimed the council had now decided to press on with a public inquiry because Blue Coat school was objecting to the village green bid.

He said the public hearing would be followed by a recommendation to the council’s planning committee, which would make the final decision.

Coun O’Boyle added: “It’s a pity they couldn’t come to an agreement. Local people have recognised the right of the school to use the fields. The school has also recognised the right of local people to access the fields in the way they have been for 40 years.

“But there has been a breakdown in trust. The bill could be in the area of £100,000. But if this finally resolves the matter one way or another that will be a good thing.”

He added: “Due to the complexities of the legislation, once a village green application has been made the authority must deal with it in quite a different way to a normal planning application.

“They can either decide against, grant the application, or call for a public inquiry.”

Coun Nellist said he had hoped agreement could be reached with the school to prevent a public inquiry, but added: “The village green appplication took many months and hundreds of people involved when it went in two years ago. So I would welcome the matter being brought to a sucessful conclusion.”

A council spokesman confirmed: “The application has to be determined by a non-statutory public inquiry. Officers are currently in the process of making those arrangements for the inquiry.”